Protection of registers against unilateral disturbances

ABSTRACT

A device includes one or more registers and circuitry. The circuitry subjects a key having a number of bits to a first function which takes a selection value into account, generating a result having a number of bits which is twice the number of bits of the key, and stores the result in the one or more registers. In response to a call for the key, the circuitry subjects the result stored in the one or more registers to a second function which takes the selection value into account to generate a response having a same value as the key.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to electronic circuits and, more specifically, to data processing units implementing encryption or decryption algorithms. The present disclosure more specifically relates to mechanisms for protecting the content of registers against unidirectional disturbances of bits that it contains.

Discussion of the Related Art

When a processing unit (typically, a cryptoprocessor) is used to implement an encryption algorithm, it is desired to check that the manipulated key has not been modified (incidentally or willfully), either during its transfer to the cryptoprocessor from an external circuit, or once in this cryptoprocessor while it is contained in a specific register thereof. Attacks aiming at disturbing the state of a bit of a register of the cryptoprocessor generally are attacks using a laser pointed on one of the bits of the register containing the key to disturb its value.

To counter a modification during the transfer, a solution is to reload the key in the cryptoprocessor as often as possible, generally on each new encryption, or periodically. However, the key register of the cryptoprocessor remains sensitive to laser attacks.

To check the integrity of the key once it is in the cryptoprocessor, the simplest would be to read this key to control it outside of the cryptoprocessor. However, to protect the key against possible hacking attempts, the temporary storage element (register) which contains the key is generally only accessible in read mode from outside of the cryptoprocessor. The integrity check then amounts to checking the consistency of results obtained by two separate calculations using the key contained in the cryptoprocessor. These two calculations are either two encryptions of a same message with the key, or an encryption followed by a decryption.

It has already been provided to check the consistency between two executions of the same algorithm, respectively with the key and with the key complemented to one. Such a solution is described in document USA-2009/0285398.

A difficulty lies in the fact that the results of an integrity check mechanism may provide information to the attacker as to the value of the bits of the key. For example, it is assumed that a successful attack causes a switching of a bit to state 1. If the attacked bit is at state 0, it will switch values. If the attacked bit is at state 1, its value remains unchanged. In this latter case, the checking mechanism is unable to notice the attack. Now, the attacker knows that he has attacked the corresponding bit. According to whether an attack detection bit switches state or not, the attacker can thus know whether the attacked bit was in a state 0 or 1. In other words, if one of the bits of the key is modified and the old and new values of this bit are the same, the checking mechanism is unable to notice it, be the checking direct (by rereading) or indirect (by two distinct calculations). This makes the key vulnerable to an attack or disturbance known as a unidirectional disturbance, which comprises forcing a bit of the key to a single one of the possible values. For example, the attacked bit is forced to zero whatever its initial state (1 or 0). The forcing of a bit to a single one of the two states may enable an attacker to determine the value of this bit according to whether his attack is or not detected (if it is not detected, then the actual bit of the key has the forced value—if it is detected, the actual bit of the key has the other state). By repeating this attack on each bit of the key, the value of said key can be obtained.

Further, a unidirectional attack may be performed simultaneously on several bits of a register, for example by using several laser beams directed towards several cells of the register.

It should be noted that the laser beam attack targets registers used in the calculations. The countermeasures are thus relative to the registers used for these calculations which, according to the algorithm using this register, may contain only a portion of the message and/or of the key.

An additional issue is to provide a countermeasure or protection mechanism which is simple to implement and which requires no modification of the hardware structure of the cryptoprocessor.

US 2008/0056488 discloses a cryptographic module with two registers respectively retaining a first data related to key data and a second data without dependency on the first data.

WO 2005/124506 discloses a cryptographic architecture with masking instructions against DPA attacks and provides toggling the polarity of some bits while maintaining the equal probability of having a 0 or 1 values.

BRIEF SUMMARY

An embodiment provides a method for protecting a key intended to be used by an electronic circuit in an encryption or decryption algorithm, comprising the steps of:

submitting the key to a first function taking a selection value into account;

storing all or part of the result of this function in at least two registers having the same size as the key;

when the key is called by the algorithm, reading the contents of said registers and submitting them to a second function taking into account all or part of the bits of the registers; and

providing the result of the combination as an input for the algorithm, the second function being such that the provided result corresponds to the key.

According to an embodiment, said second function also takes said selection value into account.

According to an embodiment, the result of the second function is not stored in a register before being submitted to the algorithm.

According to an embodiment, said selection value is a selection bit applied to each bit of the key.

According to an embodiment, said selection value is a non-deterministically selected bit word.

According to an embodiment, the first and second functions are logic combinations.

According to an embodiment, the first function spreads the bits of the key or their ones' complements into two registers.

According to an embodiment, the first function is a function spreading the bits of the key.

An embodiment provides an electronic circuit capable of implementing this method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified view of a chip card;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using a cryptoprocessor-type encryption/decryption unit;

FIG. 3 is a partial block diagram of a circuit integrating an encryption/decryption unit and a central processing unit;

FIG. 4 illustrates, in the form of a block diagram, an embodiment of the protection method; and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The same elements have been designated with the same reference numerals in the different drawings. For clarity, only those steps and elements which are useful to the understanding of the present disclosure have been shown and will be described. In particular, what use is made of the data to be encrypted or of the encrypted data has not been detailed, the present disclosure being compatible with any use. Further, the elements of the cryptographic processing unit or of the other circuits have not been detailed, the present disclosure being here again compatible with usual structures. Further, the encryption algorithm exploiting the key has not been detailed, the described embodiments being, as will be seen hereafter, compatible with any usual algorithm.

Reference will be made hereafter to term “encryption” to designate, unless otherwise mentioned, an encryption and/or a decryption, which are similar mechanisms (application of an algorithm to data and one or several keys). Similarly, reference will be made hereafter to term “register” to designate a temporary bit storage element based on one or several flip-flops. Further, the present disclosure will be described hereafter in relation with an example applied to an encryption or a decryption but it should be noted that it more generally applies as soon as a quantity considered as secret loaded in a register is manipulated to influence the circuit behavior in a way that can be observed from the outside, for example, by a signature checking mechanism.

FIG. 1 is a simplified representation of a chip card 1 of the type to which the embodiments which will be described apply as an example. Such a card 1 is formed of a support 10, for example, made of plastic matter, which supports or comprises one or several integrated circuits 2. Circuit(s) 2 are capable of communicating with the outside of the card (for example, with a read or read-write terminal) by means of contacts 11 or by contactless transceiver elements (not shown) such as an electromagnetic transponder. Circuits 2 comprise at least one encryption unit (generally called cryptoprocessor) capable of executing encryption and/or decryption calculations based on one or several keys loaded in the processing unit.

The use of encryption algorithms has many applications in electronics, be it for chip card systems, toll television systems, ciphered communication systems, etc. In all cases, there is an algorithmic processing unit capable of implementing encryption and/or decryption mechanisms.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a system using a cryptoprocessor 3 (CP). This cryptoprocessor is an integrated circuit considered as tamper-proof, which implements one or several encryption or decryption algorithms applied to data that it receives from the outside, by using one or several keys that it contains or that it also receives from the outside. Cryptoprocessor 3 is, for example, capable of communicating with a processing unit 4 (for example, a central processing unit CPU) of a circuit 2 integrating both elements 3 and 4 (and generally other circuits, not shown), such as volatile or non-volatile memories, an input-output interface, etc.).

Circuit 2 is capable of communicating over a wire link 13 or over a wireless link 14 with a separate device 15, for example, a circuit for exploiting the encrypted or decrypted data.

FIG. 3 is a detail of the diagram of FIG. 2 showing, in circuit 3, an internal temporary storage element 5 (a register). Of course, unit 3 generally comprises several registers for temporarily storing the encrypted data, the data to be encrypted as well as other variables and other elements enabling it to execute the encryption algorithm (wired logic, memories, software instruction processing unit, etc.). A specific register intended to contain encryption key K before it is used by the encryption algorithm is here considered. This register 5 will here be designated as a key register. Unit 3 may contain several key registers. The content of register 5 is, for example, written by unit 4 by transferring a key from the outside or from a non-volatile memory of the circuit. The content of register 5 is read by cryptoprocessor 3 (link 31) each time it needs the key for an encryption or decryption operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Key K, or a representation thereof, or more generally the secret quantity which is desired to be protected, is assumed to be contained in a storage element 6 internal or external to the circuit. The key is submitted to a ones' complement calculation 65 (XOR FF). Then, each bit of key K and of its ones' complement K′ is, in non-deterministic fashion (for example, according to state 0 or 1 of a randomly selected selection bit M), directed (block 67) towards one or the other of two registers R0 and R1. Registers R0 and R1 correspond, for example, to portions of a same register 5 (FIG. 3) or to different registers, provided for the total size to correspond to at least twice that of the key. In the case of a total size greater than twice the size of the key, an indicator of the beginning of a useful area, for example randomly selected from a larger area, may be used.

Function 61 implemented by blocks 65 and 67 may be replaced with logic combinations having their results stored in registers R0 and R1. For example, register R0 contains the result of the inverse (ones' complement) of an XOR type combination of key K and of selection bit M (R0=NXOR(K,M)) and register R1 contains the result of an XOR-type combination of key K and of selection bit M (R1=XOR(K,M)).

Once this preparatory work has been performed, the contents of registers R0 and R1 are capable of being used when the circuit needs to implement an encryption algorithm (block 7, ALGO) exploiting key K.

Each time the algorithm needs the key, a control circuit comprised in the cryptoprocessor or in the processing unit (not shown) triggers the reading of registers R0 and R1 and submits their content to a logic function 63 (COMB) taking into account, for each bit, the respective contents of registers R0 and R1 and the value of selection bit M. Thus, according to state 0 or 1 of the bit used for routing 67 to registers R0 and R1, the result of the combination provides the value of key K to algorithm 7.

In the example of FIG. 4, function 63 is a logic combination function 63 having the following result R:

R=(M′ OR R0) AND (M OR R1), where M′ is the inverse state (its 1s' complement) of the selection bit.

The length (number n of bits) of selection value M is, in this example, equal to 1. Each bit of registers R0 and R1 is combined with selection bit M to generate output value R.

Selection bit M may be provided by a random selection at each reading of the key from element 6. Selection bit M is stored in a register (not shown in FIG. 4) to enable the proper execution of function 63. Ones' complement M′ of selection bit M is calculated on the fly or is also stored.

In an embodiment, function 63 is applied in parallel to all the key bits.

It should be noted that Boolean function 63 uses all the bits of registers R0 and R1 to generate output R. Thus, a modification of one of the bits will have a direct effect on the output of the function, unlike a multiplexer which lets through either an input A, or an input B.

It should be noted that the value of the key provided by combination block 63 is no longer stored in a register but is directly sent onto the circuit logic. Accordingly, the absence of any storage from the moment that the key is plain (unmasked) avoids attack risks.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment. According to this embodiment, key K coming from storage element 6 (or any value derived from the key) is spread (block 71, SPREAD) into several registers R0, . . . , Ri, . . . , Rm according to a selection value M contained, for example, in another register 72. Registers R0 to Rm may each contain the entire key K in a different form or a portion of the key. In this latter case, the portions may have different or identical sizes, the sum of the sizes of the sub-portions being at least equal to the size of the initial key.

Then, as in the previous embodiment, when algorithm 7 calls the key, said key is obtained by submitting the respective contents of registers R0 to Rm to a function 73 (COMB) parameterized from selection value M contained in register 72. Function 73 depends on the used spreading function 71.

For example, function 71 is a data spreading operation, that is, an operation of distribution of the key by pieces, for example, bit by bit, into the different registers. The selection of the register R0 to Rm containing the different key portions is performed according to selection value M. Combination function 73 then amounts to concatenating the different portions in an order depending on the selection value.

According to another example, function 71 represents a spreading of the key bits into the different registers R0 to Rm which have the same size as the key, the other bits of registers R0 to Rm containing state 0 (for example, the state of the bits of selection value M conditions, during spreading 71 the displacement of a pointer circularly selecting the register Ri in which the corresponding bit of the key is selected). Function 73 then represents an OR-type bit-to-bit combination of all registers R0 to Rm. In this embodiment, selection value M does not need to be stored for recombination function 73.

According to still another example, function 71 represents a logic function on the key and the selection value. For example, the key may be represented in different formats based on a so-called NRZI (Non Return to Zero Inverted) coding. This coding amounts to calculating an XOR between two successive bits (of rank i and i+1, with i ranging between 1 and n) of the key and to replacing the bit of rank i with the inverse of the result of the XOR operation. Assuming three registers Ri (m=2):

register R0 may contain the key in so-called MSBR format by the coding of two consecutive equal bits with value 0 and two consecutive unequal bits with value 1 (XOR function);

register R1 may contain the key coded in NRZI format (two consecutive equal bits with value 1 and two consecutive unequal bits with value 0); and

register R2 may perform a bit permutation before starting an MSBR coding.

Function 73 then restores the key bits spread in the registers.

According to still another example, function 71 represents a base change of the key which is zeroed by function 73 once it has been read.

As in the previous example, the key obtained by recombination step 73 is no longer stored, but directly provided to the logic functions used by the algorithm.

If all or part of registers Ri have sizes greater than the key length, it may be necessary to take into account an indicator of the beginning of the portion containing the useful data of the concerned register(s). According to another variation, the bits of some registers are redundant and should then not be taken into account.

An advantage of the described embodiments is that an attacker does not know where to find the correct expression of the key. Accordingly, when an attacker targets an attack by unidirectional disturbance of one or several bits of one of the registers, the fault detection likely to provide him with information will indicate a fault which does not only depend on the value of the key, but also on function 61 or 71 applied to the key and on the selection value. The representation of the logic value of the key bit is modified, as well as its location in space, which makes the fault detection impossible to exploit by the attacker.

Another advantage is that the plain key does not remain present in a complete state in any register of the cryptoprocessor.

The fact for the key to be restored before its use by the algorithm makes the described embodiments applicable to any encryption algorithm, be it symmetrical or not. The selected embodiment replaces the key register in hardware or software fashion.

The provided protection mechanisms are compatible with usual processor structures and require no modification thereof. In particular, it is always possible to choose between a parallel or series checking and to share the calculation cell.

The efficiency of such a protection mechanism can be observed by modifying, after the loading of the key into the cryptoprocessor or on each loading of this key, two bits of one of the registers. If the mechanism has been implemented, the key obtained by the attack is not the right one. If it has not, the unidirectional attack on two or several bits provides the right key.

Specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described. Various alterations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. In particular, the selection of the distribution and combination functions depends on the application and on the calculating capacity of the cryptoprocessor. Further, the practical implementation is within the abilities of those skilled in the art based on the functional indications provided hereabove, be it for a hardware or software implementation.

Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: subjecting a key having a number of bits and a ones' compliment of the key to a first combinational logic function which takes a selection value into account, generating a result having a number of bits which is twice the number of bits of the key; storing the result in one or more registers of an integrated circuit; and in response to a call for the key, subjecting the result stored in the one or more registers of the integrated circuit to a second function which takes the selection value into account, generating a response having a same value as the key, wherein the second function is a second combinational logic function applied to the result stored in the one or more registers and wherein the subjecting the key to the first combinational logic function comprises at least one of: applying an inverse XOR function to the key and the selection value; and inverting a result of applying the XOR function to the key and the selection value.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the subjecting the key and the ones' compliment of the key to the first combinational logic function comprises: generating the ones' complement of the key.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein the storing the result comprises: storing one of a bit of the key and a respective bit of the ones' complement of the key in a first portion of the one or more registers; and storing the other of the one of the bit of the key and the respective bit of the ones' complement of the key in a second portion of the one or more registers.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing the result comprises storing the inverse XOR of the key and the selection value in a first portion of the one or more registers of the integrated circuit.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the storing the result comprises storing a ones' complement of the XOR of the key and the selection value in a second portion of the one or more registers of the integrated circuit.
 6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more registers comprises first and second registers each having a bit size equal to the number of bits of the key.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the response to the call for the key is not stored in a register of the integrated circuit.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection value comprises a number of selection bits equal to the number of bits of the key and a respective selection bit of the selection value is applied to each bit of the key.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein said selection value is a non-deterministically selected bit word.
 10. A device, comprising: one or more registers; and combinational logic, which, in operation: subjects a key having a number of bits and a ones' compliment of the key to a first combinational logic function which takes a selection value into account, generating a result having a number of bits which is twice the number of bits of the key; stores the result in the one or more registers; and in response to a call for the key, subjects the result stored in the one or more registers to a second function which takes the selection value into account, generating a response having a same value as the key, wherein the second function is a second combinational logic function applied to the result stored in the one or more registers and wherein the combinational logic, in operation, performs at least one of: applying an inverse XOR function to the key and the selection value; and inverting a result of applying the XOR function to the key and the selection value.
 11. The device of claim 10 wherein the combinational logic, in operation, generates the ones' complement of the key.
 12. The device of claim 10 wherein the one or more registers comprises first and second registers each having a bit size equal to the number of bits of the key.
 13. The device of claim 12 wherein the combinational logic, in operation: generates the ones' complement of the key; stores one of a bit of the key and a respective bit of the ones' complement of the key in the first register; and stores the other of the bit of the key and the respective bit of the ones' complement of the key in the second register.
 14. The device of claim 10 wherein the combinational logic, in operation, outputs the response to the call for the key without storing the response to the call for the key in the one or more registers.
 15. A system, comprising: a plurality of registers; and wired logic, which, in operation, subjects a key having a number of bits and a ones' compliment of the key to a first combinational logic function which takes a selection value into account, generating a result having a number of bits which is twice the number of bits of the key; stores the result in two of the plurality of registers; and in response to a call for the key, subjects the result stored in the two registers to a second function which takes the selection value into account, generating a response having a same value as the key, wherein the second function is a second combinational logic function applied to the result stored in the one or more registers and wherein the wired logic, in operation, performs at least one of: applying an inverse XOR function to the key and the selection value; and inverting a result of applying the XOR function to the key and the selection value.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the wired logic, in operation generates the ones' complement of the key.
 17. The system of claim 15 wherein the wired logic, in operation, stores the selection value in a third register of the plurality of registers.
 18. The system of claim 15, comprising encryption/decryption circuitry, which, in operation, issues calls for the key.
 19. The system of claim 15, comprising: a cryptoprocessor including the plurality of registers and the wired logic; and a central processor, which, in operation, communicatively couples to the cryptoprocessor.
 20. The system of claim 19 comprising an integrated circuit including the cryptoprocessor.
 21. A device, comprising: a processor; and a memory including one or more registers and, wherein the processor and the one or more memories, in operation, subject a key having a number of bits and a ones' compliment of the key to a first combinational logic function which takes a selection value into account, generating a result having a number of bits which is twice the number of bits of the key; store the result in the one or more registers; and in response to a call for the key, subject the result stored in the one or more registers to a second function which takes the selection value into account, generating a response having a same value as the key, wherein the second function is a second combinational logic function applied to the result stored in the one or more registers and wherein the processor and the one or more memories, in operation, perform at least one of: applying an inverse XOR function to the key and the selection value; and inverting a result of applying the XOR function to the key and the selection value. 